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Housing
Rights for Seniors
Because seniors are often
the victims of discrimination, have special needs, and may be targeted
by fraudulent lenders, Housing Rights, Inc. has put together this brochure
to inform seniors of their rights.
Fight
Discrimination:
You do not have to accept housing discrimination as a part of growing
older. Fair Housing laws make it illegal to discriminate against tenants
and homebuyers based on age or disability.
If you feel that you or someone you know has been discriminated against
based on age or for any other reason, contact us and we will help.
Discrimination can happen at any stage of your rental or ownership experience:
Advertising:
It is illegal for advertising to discourage seniors or those with disabilities
from applying.
Applying:
It is illegal for a landlord to ask an applicant for information about
mental and physical health, or to try
to dissuade a prospective tenant or buyer because of age or disability.
Tenancy:
It is illegal for a landlord to discriminate against a senior tenant.
For instance, service animals and care providers must be allowed. In addition,
landlords are required to allow reasonable accommodations and modifications...
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications:
In addition to making discrimination illegal, Fair Housing laws provide
certain renters with the right to reasonable accommodations and modifications.
This means that seniors who have a disability are entitled to reasonable
changes in policies, practices or procedures and modifications to their
rental unit. This is to allow everyone equal access to a comfortable life
in the home of their choice regardless of his or her impairment. An example
of a reasonable modification is a wheel-chair ramp or grab-bars.
If you feel that your landlord is denying you a reasonable accommodation
or modification, contact us and we will help.
If you need further help accommodating a disability or finding other services,
call your local Center for Independent Living.
Predatory
Lending and Fraud:
Seniors are often the target of predatory lending. Predatory lenders use
misleading and fraudulent means to induce borrowers into taking out loans
they can never repay. These loans drain equity out of homes and often
result in foreclosure. Don’t sign anything that you don’t
fully understand! Be aware that often-times family members may try to
defraud seniors out of their homes.
If you feel that you are being targeted by a predatory lender, are having
difficulty repaying a sub-prime loan, or are facing foreclosure or potential
fraud, contact us and we will help.
Housing
Options:
While seniors have the right to access the same housing as everyone else,
there are also a number of housing options designed specifically for seniors.
There are housing developments that only seniors may access, as well as
assisted living facilities. To find out more about these options, call
one of the numbers listed in the More Resources section of this page
.
Safe
and Sanitary Housing:
You have a right to live in safe and sanitary housing and your landlord
has a responsibility to make needed repairs. You also have a right to
make requests for repairs without being threatened with eviction. If your
landlord is not making needed repairs or you are being threatened when
you stand up for your rights, call Housing Rights, Inc.
More
Resources:
US Department of Health Eldercare Locator:
www.eldercare.gov
1-800-677-1116
Area Agency on Aging Senior Information Line:
1-800-510-2020
California Tenants Book:
This online book is put out by the California Department of Consumer Affairs,
and has information on tenants’ and landlords’ rights and
responsibilities.
www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
1-800-233-3212 or www.dfeh.ca.gov.
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
1800-669-9777 or www.hud.gov.
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